The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) on Thursday dismissed claims that it had registered a political party founded by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
In a statement, the ORPP flagged down a notice making rounds on the internet marking it as fake. The office juxtaposed the fake notices alongside their earlier notice that was shared via MyGov, a weekly newspaper published by the Government, on Tuesday.
The fake notice purported that the Registrar of Political Parties had registered the Democratic People's Party (DPP) with Rigathi Gachagua, Cleophas Malala, and Gathoni Wamuchomba listed as founding members.
According to Ann Nderitu, the Registrar of Political Parties, her office received three parties none of which had Gachagua as a founder member.
The three parties, the Forum for Economic Development Agenda (FEDA), Kenya United Generation Party (KUG) and the Future Party (TFP) were in the process of registration, the registrar communicated.
“In line with Section 5 (2) (a) of the Political Parties Act, 2011 the Registrar of Political Parties is in the process of provisionally registering the proposed political parties,” read the ORPP’s statement.
The dismissal of registration of Gachagua’s political party comes barely a day after the former deputy president hinted at joining forces with Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka in a quest for the presidency in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking while in Mbooni Constituency in Makueni County, Gachagua said he would explore ways to forge a political alliance with Kalonzo who he said he owed a favour for supporting former President Mwai Kibaki in the 2002 General Election.
While faulting President Ruto for betraying him, Gachagua was full of praise for the Wiper Party leader, whom he claimed stood for what was right against the Kenya Kwanza Government.
There have been speculations of Gachagua forming his political party ahead of the general polls to rally residents of Mount Kenya to a new political direction. In the recent past, he announced he would an announcement regarding the same.
After impeachment, close allies and critics of Gachagua hailing from Mount Kenya blamed him for his earlier stance of refusing to make a political party before uniting with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Following his impeachment, UDA consequently suspended Gachagua's deputy party chairmanship on the grounds he was impeached and could not hold the position. However, the party maintained that he was still a member of UDA.
